August 14, 2009 at 9:30 am

I woke up this morning to a cat crawling on my face, as I do many a morning when I am sleepy and the cats are hungry and we battle it out to see whose superlative will win. Today Java Bean’s back leg stepped on my nose and he dug his claw into my skin and left a two-inch long cut under my right eye.

It HURT. It was bleeding. I grabbed some toilet paper from the bathroom and applied pressure for 10 minutes. Then I cleaned it with hydrogen peroxide. Then I Googled “how to prevent scarring” where I learned that I should keep the wound clean, moist and avoid direct sunlight.

I’m not sure how I’m going to get a bandage on this thing, but I’m going to the drug store to see if recent innovations in bandage technology have provided a solution. I’m not that vain of a person, but I’d rather not have a scar on my nose for the rest of my life. If I do, I’m going to have to come up with a story about a knife fight. I also won tickets to the Journey concert at the State Fair on Sunday, with Heart opening, and I really want to go, direct sunlight or not. If have to wear a veil over my face to get there, so be it.

Also, please refrain from commenting on my skin, my pores, or the fact that I don’t pluck my eyebrows. I really don’t give a shit about any of that, and the only reason my skin looks a bit oily is because I put some Vaseline on the wound to keep it moist. Thanks.

UPDATE: 10:35am

I took a cue from the stoners and abused wives of the world and discovered that a big pair of sunglasses will cover up most facial wounds. Only a centimeter of the end of my cut curls out from under my big lenses. I don’t know what the cashier at CVS thought of me wearing my shades inside, but when I took them off in front of the pharmacist he thankfully did not recoil in horror. Instead, he recommended a liquid bandage, which is basically clear nail polish with some anti-bacterial ingredients. I applied that to my cut and covered it up with a piece of gauze I cut up to fit the wound. Then I taped it on with some cloth tape. It seems to be holding and now I have plenty of time to practice that knife fight story involving some bitch with long fingernails who got fresh with me.

That looks really sore, especially being right under your eye. OUCH! I agree with keeping it moist to help it heal. I don’t really have any advice as to how to prevent scarring other than keep the skin in good condition so I guess moisturising is a good plan.

I guess if you get a bandage it’s best to stay out of the sun anyway due to the risk of some rather interesting tan lines!

I have no idea how you would bandage it but I reckon the knife fight story is a good idea for while it’s bandaged/still healing. Get better soon!

Last year martin had a freak out nightmare during a PTSD episode in the middle of the night, he started to kick his feet. Problem was, my cat was still under the blanket and got a swift kick. He freaked out (the cat) and struggled to get out from beneath the blankets. In his struggles to get out, he used my calves, back of my thighs and ass to get out. (I was sleeping on my stomach)… I had four, 7 inch long scrapes (cuts actually) on the thighs and and several others in other places. *ahem* I swear by polysporing. I have no scars at all….

Hope it heals fast!!!!!

P.S. The cat no longer sleeps under the blanket, unless I’m the only one there. Heh.

Agreed, polysporin is great for healing! I have multiple melanoma syndrome, which leads me to lots of skin surgery so I am almost an expert on scaring (and an esthetician, your pores actually look really good) but once it has healed a bit, is no longer an “open” wound, there is this stuff called biodermis. You have to order it on their website, but it is GREAT for healing/preventing scar tissue. They are all silicone based products that are designed just for that purpose. I have had amazing luck with their stuff.

I cut my face at the top of my nose right between the eyes. It required stitches. Today, several years later, you can only see the scar if you are REALLY looking for it and know where to look before hand.

To prevent scarring, I used Vitamin E. You cut the capsule open and apply the gooey stuff inside directly to the healing cut/scar. It keeps it moist, and it seemed to work for me in minimizing the scar.

Since I work on a website all day, I know that people will say almost anything when they think they’re anonymous. Sadly, your request to the peanut gallery to keep their smart-ass comments about your face to themselves was necessary.

Your answer to queries about your injury should be “You should see the other guy!”

I’ve also tried the vitamin E for scarring, and had good results, although I’ve since heard that the oily stuff in the capsules is probably what helps, not the vitamin E itself.

I’ve also tried Dr Palmer’s Anti-scarring serum, which does seem to speed up healing – although it is deeply annoying, since it’s very sticky and does NOT absorb into your skin, so it is prone to rub off on everything you touch. Which might not be so problematic on your face; my scar is on the back of my hand.

From the experience gleaned from many years of clumsiness, I would say your cat-scratch is probably going to heal perfectly and not leave a scar. Faces heal well by comparison with other body parts, as do hands. I don’t have a scar from the time the gerbil bit me on the nose!

I had almost the exact thing happen to me about 2 years ago. Except mine when across my cheek, across, my eye, and through my eyebrow into my forehead. I bawled thinking I was going to have massive facial scars since cat scratches are known to be tough to get to heal. I used butterfly stiches (those sticky things you use instead of stiches) to hold the wound closed and kept it clean. No scar except in my eyebrow (where I couldn’t get the strips b/c of the hair).

Oh dear. I second (or third or whatever number I am) the vitamin E remedy for scarring. I had some major surgery about 7 years ago and ended up with hundreds of stitches but you can hardly see the scars now at all. The plastic surgeon who performed my surgery recommended massaging the scar lines with vitamin E oil and it seems to have worked.

While posing for a pet-inclusive family Christmas card picture several (eight to be exact, because I couldn’t continue writing until I quantified it) years ago, in her haste to remove herself from the situation once she was unhanded, our tabby cat dug the claws of her right back foot into the underside of my forearm. The resulting bloody gashes were un-bandageable and they stayed red & angry all through their healing time…which was extensive as I recall.

When asked what happened, I tried several colorful lies in place of the truth but found that telling people I’d strangled a hooker or got hurt during a rash of smash & grab car stereo yielded horrifed looks as often as it did laughter so eventually I just told the truth.

Despite copious amounts of neosporin, daily care and lots of wishing…I still have two faint scars. I wish you speedy, blemish free healing!

While posing for a pet-inclusive family Christmas card picture several (eight to be exact, because I couldn’t continue writing until I quantified it) years ago, in her haste to remove herself from the situation once she was unhanded, our tabby cat dug the claws of her right back foot into the underside of my forearm. The resulting bloody gashes were un-bandageable and they stayed red & angry all through their healing time…which was extensive as I recall.

When asked what happened, I tried several colorful lies in place of the truth but found that telling people I’d strangled a hooker or got hurt during a rash of smash & grab car stereo yielded horrifed looks as often as it did laughter so eventually I just told the truth.

Despite copious amounts of neosporin, daily care and lots of wishing…I still have two faint scars. I wish you speedy, blemish free healing!

Thank goodness Java Bean missed your eye! Drew (kitty 1 of 4) decided it would be a good idea to get on the back of the toilet once while I was on it, and when he MISSED, he dug his claws into my rumpus rear and dragged down. Ouch. Luckily, that one was easy to keep out of the sun :D

My cat did something similar to me many years ago, except every claw on her paw was out and it really looked like I had been swiped by a cat (which I had – and it was stupid of me to pick up a cat when she was hissing at another one!).

At the time my job involved meeting the public everyday and I was very concerned about my appearance. I have no idea whether it did any real good, but I was diligent about opening up those caps of Vitamin E and rubbing the liquid inside on my scratches. Whether that or my relative youth, I’m happy to say that today I am the only one who can see my scars, and even then I have to look super, super close.

Looking at the picture made me cringe. The same exact thing happened to me, in the same exact location…THREE days before my wedding. Yeah. Nice.

The cat was crawling across the headboard of my bed and fell onto my face.

I put Neosporin on that sucker every hour for the 3 days leading up to the wedding and by the time we exchanged vows it was unnoticable (and I have no scar!). If that’s not a good advertisement for Neosporin, I don’t know what is!

From the looks of it, I think it’ll heal just fine. I’m sorry that happened though. Once it heals, the sun should blend whatever blemish it leaves with the rest of your skin. By the way, you’re cute with or without your sunglasses :-)

You’re worried about your eyebrows (just fine) and pores (normal) when you have such beautiful brown eyes. Come on! Go with the Neosporin and keep the bandage off to let the air heal it when you’re not going out.

This happend to me about 10 years ago. The cats were playing chase, I was sleeping on the couch and BAM! Then they had the nerve to want to play with me in the midst of my yelping in pain.

I worked in an almost all-male enviornment at the time. I couldn’t even sit down sit down at my desk without someone asking “what the heck happend to your face?” Chicks would have just talked behind my back.

YIKES! I’ve never had a face scratch like that, but I’ve had many, many cat scratches that drew major blood. I’ve had the best luck minimizing scarring when I let every last scrap of scab come off on its own. Like, obviously I don’t pick at it, but also I’m very careful about accidentally touching it or rubbing it in the shower, etc. It really seems to help!

Tamanu oil is very, very good at healing cuts without scars. I include that in every skin treatment I make up. Centella asicatica, or Brahmi oil from the websiste http://www.fromnature withlove.com is a less smelly alternative.

People actually comment about your skin, pores etc? That is rude. I have had too many run ins with cats scratching my face to count. One night I was sleeping one of the cats was sleeping at the top of my bed. I have no idea what happened but something startled my cat and he did a tapdance on my face. I screamed because it woke me up and in my disoriented state is scared the crap out of me. My boyfriend jumped up like “WTF”. I have so many cat scars the worst comes from my ex-boyfriends evil cat from the depths of hell. He bit me on the wrist which led to a fast spreading infection. I went to the specialist the next morning who said that it needed to be cut open and cleaned. I now have a perfect “X” in the middle of my wrist. It is a really dark scar because it was a very deep wound which wasn’t stitched up. The thing I hate about it is that it looks self inflicted.

Awwww, that’s a really harsh way to wake up in the morning! I’m so glad he didn’t get your eye. My cat clawed up my back pretty badly when he was a kitten. He was intrigued by the end of my braid, and took a flying leap at it.

Oh man, I sympathize with you. I too have numerous scratches from my little kitten. None of them as hardcore as yours. Currently I am displaying a small chin scratch.

Anyway, I am more interested in your response to the cat’s scratch. I love my kitten dearly, but when Mozart messes with me when I am sleeping….I am a bit ashamed to say there may be some throwing of kittenish like animals onto the floor. It semi makes me concerned for when I have children.

I’ll refrain from telling you to to stand naked upside down in a barrel of apple cider vinegar while rhythmically massaging flax seed oil counterclockwise into the scar and humming a hymn to stimulate the cells from within, as I know your opinion of unsolicited advice.

sorry if someone else has recommended this already, i didnt read all of the comments.

coco butter stick it is great for healing and smells yummy. i had a mole removed from my shoulder about 4-5 years ago ,and i was told to use merderma, that stuff STINKS. im a very smell sensitive person so i had to stop using it.

i got the coco butter stick idea from my friend that is a point (dance) person. she uses it on her feet to prevent scaring. the stick itself costs about a dollar and smells like cookies. I unfortunately didnt keep up with the applying it twice a day and i have a horrible scar on my shoulder.

hopefully yours will heal ok. i have been scratched on the face before and i have no evidence of it.

neosporin or polysporin helps the skin cells migrate faster and that helps reduce scarring. however, you need to watch out for cat scratch fever. it’s very common from cat bits and scratches. if you notice any pus or red streaks you should see a doctor. good luck and post photo in a few weeks so that we can see the results.

When I saw the photo of your scratch, I thought, ouch! I’m glad the claws missed your eye. Then I thought, nice eyebrows and pretty skin. I plucked the heck out of my brows senior year of high school and they never grew back in. That is many years of eyebrow pencil ago. Then, of course, Brooke Shields and her beautiful, full, brows became the norm. Your eyebrows look great! Keeping the scab moistened is the best thing to do, too, you’re right about the vaseline. Oh, I found your site linked off a TWOP forum for the reality show about Ruby, the Georgia woman trying to lose weight. Did you know someone on the forum mentioned your site as a good read?

I swear by vitamin E. Some bitch errr my best friend threw a spool of thread at my face and it left a deep gash on my nose. Yes, I said it gash. It was it was a bloody hole on my nose. I kept out of the sun and put vitamin e on it twice a day. Sticky and smelly stuff bit it didnt scar at all. If you cant stomach the vitamin e STAY out of the sun or it will scar. My arms are proof of that.

I had one very similar to that! My cat freaked out one night when sleeping on my bed and ran up my face. I see about 500 kids per week as a music teacher and all were deeply concerned…so I just said it was a pirate attack.

I agree with the other commenters, please imagine a quiet wolf wistle about nice face and hair.

Much more importantly, Keep up the vitamin E and hydration of the wound site. Aloe would be wise also.

I’ve a got a couple scars from unpleasant surprises. Most notable involves body surfing off an old mustang moving at speed. Trust me, it’s no fun to find out where that car is by hearing its’ engine pass under you.

My cat did the same thing to me although nowhere near as long as your scratch when she decided to run on to my face while I was asleep. I had scratches on my cheek and a really deep one on my nose which left a slight scar but the cheek ones healed up without any scarring. Apparently while I was still asleep the moment she dug in I grabbed her really hard and threw her into a wall which I don’t remember and am only speculating because I only remember her on my face with the pain and then her looking at me all freaked out next to the wall and I didn’t have time to check on her because I was actually running late for work. I guess you get automatic self defense mechanisms like that when you’ve lived like I’ve lived. When I got home she freaked out and ran under something at the sight of me and it took a while to get her to calm down. It’s been years and now sometimes she’ll sleep near me but I think she’s still scared to go around me while I’m sleeping. I definitely wouldn’t of done anything like throwing her into the wall while I was fully awake because I’ve had a cat before who was freaking out and screaming hanging by her hind leg from a ladder who I was trying to free dig into my arm so hard blood literally ran out like a gushing faucet and I didn’t even raise my voice at her and remained calm.

This happened to be just this morning. Was asleep, minding my own business, before waking up with a stinging pain. 3-4 inch long slash horizontally across my forehead along with a scratch pretty similar to yours across the bridge of my nose. I’m terrified to go back to sleep because all I can think about is what would have happened if she got my eye :P

Jennette Fulda tells stories to the Internet about her life as a smartass, writer, weight-loss inspiration, chronic headache sufferer, and overall nice person (who is silently judging you). She does this at JenFul now, but you can still have fun perusing her past here.

Disclaimer: I am not responsible for keyboards ruined by coffee spit-takes or forehead wrinkles caused by deep thought.